Trash and litter evacuating device for automobiles



Jan. 25, 1966 w. A. NICKLESS TRASH AND LITTER EVACUATING DEVICE FORAUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. 13, 1963 INVENTOR. M/fiur fl- A ia/fleas UnitedStates Patent ()flice 3,230,567 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 3,230,567 TRASHAND LITTER EVACUATING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Wilbur A. Nickless, Box164, Stuart, Nebr. Filed Sept. 13, 1963, Ser. No. 308,888 1 Claim. (Cl.15-313) My invention relates to an evacuating device for automobiles andwhich will include a receptacle for litter and trash.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which will drawor suck litter of various types, and cigarette and ashes, etc., into acommon receptacle which can be emptied when desired.

A further object of my invention is to provide an arrangement wherebythe suction applied by the device can be attached to a standard vacuumcleaner type of hose so that the upholstery, etc., in the automobile canbe cleaned when desired.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of mydevice, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinaftermore fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a generally plan view of my device with fragmentarysections,

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of FIGURE 1 taken generally along the lines22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3--3 of FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged detail of the litter carrying compartment, and

FIGURE 5 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit.

My invention contemplates the provision of a substantially centrallyarranged chamber to which is secured an electrically driven suction fan,to thereby draw the contents of a litter receptacle and ash trays to thesame.

In describing my invention, I have used thecharacter to designate thefront dashboard of an automobile, the characters 11 and 12 indicatingthe forward and rear ash trays, which ash trays have the covers 13 and14 pivoted as at 15, and adapted to bear against the gaskets 16, thecovers having the handles 17 attached thereto to open the same.

Communicating with the ash receptacles 11 and 12 at 17a are the hollowtubes 18 and 19 which join at 20, the tube 19 being joined at 21 to afurther tube 22, the tube 22 communicating at 23 with a largerreceptacle 24 having a door 25 and being pivoted at 26, the door 25bearing against a sealing gasket 27.

The lid 25 includes a hollow neck 28 having a bayonet slot 29 therein,and the neck 28 is normally covered by means of a sealing cap 30, whichcap 30 can contain an opening to provide means for the suction pressureto be obtained.

The character 31 indicates the rear seat of the automobile, thecharacter 32 indicates the floorboard, and the character 33 indicates aforward wall.

The tube 22 communicates at 34 with a hollow receptacle indicatedgenerally by the character 35 and having the top wall 36, end walls 37and downwardly converging side walls 38. Pivoted at 39 is a lower wall40 which is securely held against a gasket 41 by means of a snap device42. Attached at 43 within the member 35 is a sloping screen 44, andattached to an end wall 37 is a fan casing 45 having the fan 46 therein,a cylindrical tube 47 communicating with the casing 45, and driving thefan or impeller 46 is an electric motor 48.

The receptacles 11 and 12 can include sloping walls 49 and thereceptacle 24 will include a sloping wall 50,

this arrangement providing means whereby the material will more readilypass into the various pipes. The character 51 indicates an electrictoggle switch.

The doors 13, 14 and 25 are preferably spring-urged by means of suitabletorsion springs, as is the wall 40 to provide firm seating against thevarious gaskets.

In FIGURE 5 the character 52 designates the battery of the automobilewhich is connected to the circuit as shown.

The device operates in the following manner. The receptacle 24 isadapted to receive litter and trash placed therein by the occupants ofthe automobile, this device being especially useable to eliminate thethrowing of the litter or trash on to the highway. The door 25 is openedby merely clasping the cap 30 and the litter is thrown into thereceptacle 24, and the switch 51 is operated for a short time whichtherefore starts the motor 48 and the fan 46 whereupon the cover 25being closed, the considerable suction applied will draw the trash orlitter through the tube 22 into the receptacle 35, the screen 44preventing entrance of the litter into the fan and the like.

It will also be noted that the tubes 18 and 19 function In the samemanner to suck the contents from the receptacles 11 and 12 into thecontainer 35, the members 11 and 12 containing the usual cigarettebutts, ashes and the like, and it will thus be observed that when theswitch 51 is operated, the entire system consisting of the littercompartment and the ash trays will be thoroughly cleaned and evacuated.The receptacle 35 can be emptied when desired by merely swinging thedoor 40 downwardly, the arrangement then being reclosed again.

The various doors 13, 14 and 25 can include any type of openings desiredto insure the proper suction effect. In case it is desired to clean theupholstery in the automobile, a standard vacuum cleaner attachment 53having the engaging portion 54 can be engaged with the bayonet slot 29,and the switch 51 is then operated for this purpose.

It will be especially understood that minor variations could be made inthe hose connections and other parts without departing from theessential spirit of the invention.

It will now be noted that I have provided the advantages mentioned inthe objects of my invention with further advantages being apparent.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of theparts of my invention without departing from the real spirit and purposeof my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim anymodified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which maybe reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

A trash and litter evacuating device for automobiles comprising meansproviding a chamber for the retention of litter, means for providingsuction through said chamber, a litter receptacle mounted within saidautomobile, a hollow tube connected between said litter receptacle andsaid chamber for evacuating material from said litter receptacle, saidlitter receptacle having a pivoted closure, said pivoted closure havingconduit means thereon communicating with the interior of the receptacleand adapted selectively to receive a suction cleaner attachment or aclosure cap, further tubes communicating with said chamber, said furthertubes communicating with ash trays of said automobile, said suctionmeans including an electric motor, a fan driven by said electric motor,said fan being positioned adjacently to said chamber, and communicatingtherewith, said chamber including a lower discharge wall pivoted to saidchamber, and a screen for preventing movement of litter through saidchamber, said screen to said fan.

3 being angularly inclined and being positioned adjacently 2,680,569

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 4/ 1909 Noe.10/1911 Dillon 15-314 370,087

6/1931 Irons 15313 10/1953 Leland 20619.5

4 6/ 1954 Shearer 15--3 14 X 9/1958 Thompson 206--19.5 12/1961 Frost20619.5 11/1962 Elswood 206-495 FOREIGN PATENTS 1/ 1907 France.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

